Diabetes & kidney disease

Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney failure, because of diabetic nephropathy.

Diabetic nephropathy happens when, over many years, high glucose levels damage your kidney's filtering units. As a result they leak protein into your urine – this is often the first sign of damage.

Over time, many of the filtering units stop working, so your kidneys can no longer remove waste. This leads to chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Your healthcare team will regularly check your urine for any signs that your kidneys are leaking protein. They will also use blood tests to check how well your kidneys are working. If they notice any early changes, they can take steps to help you prevent further damage.

Not all people with diabetes get diabetic nephropathy. Making sure your blood sugar and blood pressure are well controlled helps to reduce your risk of getting diabetic nephropathy, or slows down the disease if you do get it.

What are the symptoms of diabetic nephropathy?

Most people have no symptoms until the damage to their kidneys is advanced. Symptoms may include: